course details

Online Improve your English: virtual classroom

Who is this course for?

You can only enrol on this course through a friendly chat and skills check with an experienced Learn Devon Learning support coordinator. To make a local appointment to confirm which course is most suitable for your needs, please contact our Bideford team on 01237 472462.

This course will enable you to improve your English under the tuition of a qualified English teacher who will assist you with learning at your own pace and enable you to set your own goals. Progression opportunities will be available.

The course requires regular attendance and extra work at home.

Course content

Course covers Functional Skills English (Levels 1 and 2) and include the skills of communication, reading and writing used in everyday situations such as –

* contributing to formal discussion of ideas and opinions

* interpreting meaning in sentences

* planning and adapting texts

* planning and drafting writing

Support and feedback

How will I learn?

You will learn by a mixture of working with others and on your own. There will be whole class teaching too. You will do some research work, reading and other activities to support your learning.

How will my progress be monitored?

You will be encouraged to be responsible for your own learning. An individual learning plan will be used to record your targets and achievements.

Additional costs and requirements

Real-time teaching in a virtual environment. Learners must have access to a computer, headphones and Zoom (we will advise on this).

A4 file, writing materials and lined paper to be brought to the first and subsequent lessons.

You can only enrol on this course through a friendly chat and skills check with an experienced Learn Devon Learning Support Coordinator.

Will I have to do anything outside of the session?

Weekly homework will be used to practice, check understanding of topics covered and provide feedback on progress.

About the tutor

Jenni Marshall works as a tutor for Learn Devon, teaching Literacy, ESOL French and Spanish Tutor for Learn Devon. Prior to this she worked for Cornwall Adult Education Service, Abingdon, and Witney & Oxon College also teaching the aforementioned subjects. Within the literacy programmes taught, she delivered Key Skills, Skills for Life and also Communication to recovering Drug and Alcohol users.

Jenni commenced full time teaching 2003. Prior to that, she taught English as a Foreign Language both privately and also for SUL Language School. She has also taught Elective Home Education students for 10 years following both the British and American curriculums.

Jenni has an Honours Degree in Humanities where she majored in English Language/English Literature from The Open University, A PGCE from University of Greenwich and amongst other specialist qualifications, a Level 5 Subject Specialism in Literacy inc ESOL. Jenni’s area of interest is Applied Linguistics which she will further study in a Masters of Applied Linguistics.

Jenni’s passion is equipping others with the necessary tools to ensure that they realise their dreams. She is a great advocate of education as the means to do this.

“I simply love teaching adults how to work against all those negative reports, whether from others or within and watching them surpass all expectations. Especially when they start to believe that they really do have the power to achieve something that was never before thought possible”.